Photo of Nolan Williams courtesy of UMHB Athletics
BELTON — After being held to just three runs over the first two games of its season-opening series against high-powered No. 12 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, UMHB’s bats came alive in the finale on Sunday afternoon.
Home runs from center fielder Nolan WIlliams and catcher Jacob Newland bolstered an offense that took an early 2-0 lead then exploded for six runs between the sixth and seventh innings, lifting UMHB to an 8-6 victory at Red Murff Field.
It marked The Cru’s fifth win over a nationally-ranked opponent in the last two seasons, giving UMHB momentum heading into next weekend’s three-game series against 15th-ranked Webster.
The Cru tallied nine hits on the day—just two shy of matching their total between Games 1 and 2—with two-hit performances from Newland, Williams, and left fielder Tyler Betts. Williams and Newland each scored two runs, and the trio combined to account for four of UMHB’s seven RBIs.
On the mound, Cole Morkovsky registered the first start of his collegiate career, going 4.0 innings against the potent lineup of CMS. The sophomore right-hander scattered three hits and two earned runs across those four innings on the bump, while also striking out four in a new career-high.
Freshman Zach Hampton followed with 3.2 innings in relief, as the Corpus Christi native fanned five batters in his collegiate debut, allowing five hits and a run while picking up the win. Senior Jacob Haynes tallied the save after coming in for Gavin Oliver, recording the game’s final two outs.
After Morkovsky retired three of the first four batters he faced in the first, UMHB’s offense went to work in the bottom of the inning. Newland drew the first of three straight walks from CMS starter Tegin Maloney, then came around to score on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. Newland stepped up again in the third, turning on a 2-0 pitch from Maloney as the catcher sent it over the left field wall for a solo homer.
Rider Gordon knotted the game at 2-2 in the fourth with a home run of his own, and in the top of the sixth, the Stags threatened to take a lead of their own, loading the bases with two outs on a base hit from Blaise Heher. It presented one of CMS’ best scoring opportunities of the afternoon, but Hampton shut it down, striking out Keegan Cabrera to eliminate the threat.
The Crusader bats didn’t hold back in the bottom of the inning, with the momentum from Hampton’s strikeout carrying over in a four-run outburst. A bases-loaded single from shortstop Easton Cline broke the deadlock, bringing Williams and JC Hughes across the plate. Betts followed with an RBI single of his own, and Cline tagged and scored on a sac fly from Cameron Talburt to go up 6-2. Williams’ two-run homer in the seventh extended the lead to six, building a firm lead for the bullpen to protect.
CMS rallied late, however, and made a game of it in the ninth. Carter Bennett followed a leadoff single with a two-run homer. Alex Henderson then drew a walk. The Stags pulled back within two, 8-6, on Bryce Didrickson’s RBI single, which then brought a pitching change for The Cru with Haynes called in from the bullpen.
The game’s dramatic conclusion only grew in intensity from there. Haynes allowed a base hit to Jett Shue, who lined a pitch into left field with runners on first and second. With one out and looking to capitalize on the momentum, Gordon took off from second and rounded third, looking to beat the throw home.
But UMHB’s relay was perfect. Betts fired a strike to Cline at shortstop, who then seamlessly delivered an excellent throw to Newland at the plate. The catcher placed the tag on Gordon—who dove headfirst—just in time. Rather than making it a one-run game, CMS found itself down to its final out. After walking Heher to load the bases, Haynes induced a popout to Cline in shallow left field, sealing the win for The Cru and holding off the CMS comeback bid.
UMHB returns to Red Murff Field on Friday night, hosting No. 15 Webster at 6 p.m. CT, followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Webster will be making its season debut after going 37-9 overall with an NCAA Regional appearance last spring.
